Community-Based Intervention Strategies and Alternatives for the Serious Offender (From Metropolitan Areas and Serious Juvenile Crime, 1982, Tape M-13 - See NCJ-91384)

• NCJ Number: 91396
• Author(s): T Maher; T L Armstrong
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 0 pages
• Sale Source: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Running time: 40 mins.

Annotation

This presentation provides an overview of community-based programs for serious juvenile offenders, with attention to defining the serious juvenile offender, program philosophy, control mechanisms, program typology, and treatment strategies.

Abstract

The presentation was based on research done by the University of Chicago, which consisted of a descriptive analysis of the programs rather than an evaluative analysis. Concerning definitions of serious juvenile offenders, these varied across jurisdictions depending on a particular locale's view of the severity of a juvenile offense. The repetitiveness of offending was included in all the admission criteria. The clients generally did not include chronically violent juvenile offenders, since as a general rule these offenders are sent to secure facilities. Most of the clients had records of chronic property offenses with no more than one or two offenses against persons. A central theme in the philosophies of the programs is the development in clients of the skills and values required to live normatively in the community. Programs can be generally typed as residential and nonresidential. The nonresidential programs succeeded in exerting control over clients through tight scheduling of program activities, intensive supervision, and intensive tracking of clients while they were away from program facilities. Most programs structured stages of development that involved increasing levels of responsibility and freedom that moved toward behavior patterns that facilitated reintegration in the community. Residential programs provided either a therapeutic milieu which emphasized intensive reorientation and reconstruction of the individual or socialization through role modeling and education. Nonresidential programs usually included an emphasis on family therapy and parenting education. Community-based programs for serious juvenile offenders appear to offer more creative alternatives for effective reintegration than do institutional programs. Questions and answers from the session are included.